Machine for making tacks or nails.



No. 684,364. Patented Oct. 8, |90I. J. N. GIFFOBD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TACKS 0R NAILS.

(Application led May 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

'me komm rmx: oo, mrolumo. wwwa-ron. D. c.

No. 684,364. Patented oct. 8, 190|. l

.1. N. GIFFonn.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TACKSDR NAILS.

(Application led May 11. 1901.

(No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 2.

l" 1M "1 a L Il La 6 4 7. 130' Lil' I 1271/ 35 ||i Z .95 53 102 umnPatented oct. 8,' |901.

J. N. GIFFRD. MACHINE FOR MAKING TACKS 0R NAILS.

(Application lod my 11, 1901.)

4 Shuk-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

TN: norms man; ca, moro-urna.. wAsNmaroN. nA c.

No. 684,364. Patented Oct. 8, 190|. J. N. GIFFOBD.

MACHINE FUR MAKING TACKS UB NAILS.

(Application filed Hay 11.1l 1901.)l (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. GIFFORD, OF FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOCYRUS D. HUNT, OF SAME PLACE.

MoHiNE l-oa MAKING TAoKs ou NAlLs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,364, dated 'October8, 190i;

Application filed May 1l, 1901- Serial No. 59.787. (No modehl To allwhom, it may concern/ Beit known that I, JAMES N. GIEFORD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Fairhaven, in the county of Bristol andState of 5 Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines forMaking Tacks or Nails, of which the following description, in connectionwith'the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on thedrawings 1o representing like parts.

In most automatic machinery for cutting tack-blanks from a sheet ofmetal and forming the same into tacks or nails the sheet of metal fromwhich the tacks are to be made is` first cut into strips which are of awidth approximately equal to the length of the blanks from Which thetacks are made, and said strip is then fed to a cutting mechanism whichoperates to cut the same transversely zo into the blanks of therequisite shape. From the cutting mechanism the blank is delivered to aheading mechanism, which operates to swage a head on the blank, thuscompleting the tack or nail. With this class of machines z5 it isnecessary to cut the material from which the blanks are formed intostrips of the appropriate size before feeding the same to the cuttingmechanism; and it is the object of myinvention to improve this class ofdevices by providing a mechanism Which operates to cut a sheet of metalinto strips, the strips being cut successively, and to cut each stripinto tack-blanks simultaneously with the operation of cutting said stripfrom the sheet. My device includes a cutting mechanism and means to feedthe sheet of metal toward the cutting mechanism, and said cuttingmechanism operates during the forward movement of the sheet to make aseries of cuts parallel to the line of feed, thereby cutting from thesheet of metal a strip parallel to the line of feed and longitudinallyof the sheet. The cutting mechanism is so constructed that as thelongitudinal strip is cut from the sheet it is simultaneously cuttransversely into tack-blanks. Suitable heading mechanism is employed inconnection with the cutting mechanism for forming heads upon the blanks.Theapparatusissoconstructed that after one strip has been cut from thesheet of metal and cut up into tack-blanks the said sheet isautomatically retracted from the cutting mechanism and when in itsretracted position is moved transversely to the line of feed, 'and thusshifted into the proper posi- 55 tion to have another strip of metal cuttherefrom. The forward-feed lnechanism is then automatically thrown intooperation to feed the sheet of metal toward the cutting mechanism, saidcutting mechanism operating to 6o cut a strip from the sheet andsimultaneously cut said sheet into tack-blanks, as described. Thisoperation is repeated until the sheet is entirely cut into blanks. Withmy device, therefore, it is unnecessary to first cut the sheet intostrips before feeding it to the machine, as the machine cuts the stripsfrom the sheet, as Well as cutting said strips into tack-blanks.

The invention comprises a cutting mech- 7c anism including threeknives-a center knife and at either side thereof one which which I havetermed a leader-knife.7 The center knife is adapted to cut the sheet ofmetal perpendicular to the line of feed, and one of the leader-knives isconstructed to cut the sheet both perpendicular to the line of feed andparallel thereto. Suitable knife-operating mechanism is employed toreciprocate the knives independently, the center knife being 8oreciprocated alternately in unison with the leader-knives. Combined withthe cutting mechanism is a vibrating table upon which is mounted thefeeding mechanism for feeding the sheet of metal to the cuttingmechanism, and the vibrating table is constructedv to vibratesynchronously with the reciprocations of the center knife. Theknife-operating mechanism and the table vibrating mechanism are so timedthat the center knife 9o vand one leader-knife are reciprocated to out ablank from the sheet of metal when the table is in one extreme position,and the center knife vand the other leader-knife are reciprocated ICOFig. 2 is a side elevation looking in the opposite direction fromFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectionof the machine. Fig. 5-is a front elevation of the knives, the bed ofthe machine being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6,Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a detail of the upper end of the slides carrying themovable knives. Figsy7 and 8 are details of the die members and theclearer. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the die members. Fig. 9a is a planView of the cutting end of the bed-knives, showing the movable knives insection. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of one of the followers. Figs. 11and 12 are details showing the manner in which the sheet of metal is cutinto strips and simultaneously cut into blanks, Fig. 11 being the cutwhich is made by the center knife and one leader-knife when the table isin one extreme position, and Fig. 12 being the cut which is made by thecenter knife and the other leader-knife when the table is in theopposite position. Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16 are views showing differentoperative positions of the knives and headers. Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20are views showing the corresponding positions of the die members. Figs.21 and 24 are details showing the knocko for the reciprocating feedingmechanism. Fig. 22 is a detail of the means for holding the sheet ofmetal to be cut. Fig. 23 is a detail'showing the mechanism for vibratingthe table. Fig. 25 is a detail of the clamp for the two slides of theholder.

3 designates a frame of any suitable con- `struction adapted to supportlthe operative parts of the machine, the said frame having means tosupport the fixed die member 7, hereinafter referred to, and the fixedor bed knife 8 of the cutting mechanism, the said bed-knife in thisembodiment of my invention being supported on top of the fixed diemember 7 and both the fixed knife and the fixed die member beingconnected to the bed 9 of the machine by any suitable means, as by thebolts 10. Cooperating with the fixed knife 8 are the reciprocatingknives 11, 12, and 13,the knife 11 beingsituated between the knives 12and 13 and being designated as the active or central knife,while theknives 12 and 13 either side of the central knife are hereinafterreferred to as leader-knives. The active or central knife 11 isadjustably mounted in any suitable way upon a headblock 5, as by screws14, passing through slots in the central knife and into said headblock,and the said head-block 5 reciprocates in and is guided by suitable ways4, carried by the frame 3. At either side of the central knife 11 thehead-block or slide 5 is provided with a dovetailed recess in which areslidably mounted the auxiliary slides 16 and 17, the said slidescarrying the leaderknives 12 and 13, respectively. For this purpose eachslide is preferably channeled out, as at 18, sufficiently to receive aleader-knife, and the said knife .is adjustably held in position bymeans of a clamp, shown as a yoke 19, bearing at one end against theface of the knife and at the other end against the face of the slide 17or of a projection 2O thereon, the said yoke or U-shaped strap 19 beingheld in place by the screw 21, passing into the slide. The upper end ofeach leader-knife bears against an adj usting-screw 22, supported in theupper end of the corresponding slide, the purpose of whichadjusting-screw is to provide means for properly adjusting the cuttingedge of each leader-knife with relation to the cutting edge of thecenter knife. By making the center knife detachable and by supportingthe leader-knives in the channeled-out portions 18 of the slides it willbe seen that knives of dierent sizes or widths may be employed,wherebytack-blanks of different lengthsA may be cut according tothe size of tack desired to be made. I preferably ll the space betweenthe outer sides of the leader-knives and the shoulder of thechanneled-out portion 18 of the slides with shims V300 of a suitablethickness, as seen in Fig. 6, said shims operating in connection withthe yokes 19 to hold the leader-knives firmly in place.

The head-block 5 is provided at its upper end with therearwardly-extending arm 24, and each slide 16 and 17 is provided with asimilar arm or bearing 24', these arms being engaged by cams 25 and 26,mounted upon a main shaft 27, which is carried at the upper end of theframe, said shaft preferably having attached thereto the {1y-wheel 28and be-Y ing driven in any suitable way, as by a belt passing over theusual fast and loose pulleys 29. The cam 25is a double cam, (see Fig.4,) while the cams 26 are single cams and are oppositely disposed, sothat as the shaft'27 revolves the center knife 1l will make tworeciprocations, while the leader-knives 12 and 13 each make a singlereciprocation and operate alternately. The purpose of this arrangementof the operating mechanism will be presently explained. To return theknives to their upper position after having been forced down by thecams, I may provide a series of springs 30, which are supported at oneend upon a suitable fixed support, as a cross-piece'3l, secu red to theframe, and bear at their upper ends against the under side of the arms24 and 24 on the head-block and auxiliary slides, respectively. Anyother suitable means for raising theknives may be employed, if desired.

The means for holding the sheet of metal which is to be cut intotack-blanks and for feeding the same to the cutting mechanism is mountedupon a reciprocating table 33, the said table being provided with thesupporting-arm 33a, which is pivoted to the under side of the bed 9 uponthe pivot-bolt 34, the pivot-point of the table being situated nearlyvertically beneath the center knife 11. The

operating mechanism for vibrating the table 33 comprises an arm 35,which is rigid with IOO IIO

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and extends rearwardly from the supportingarrn 33a at the pivotal pointof the table and is confined between the two arms of a fork 36, carriedby the shaft 37. rPhe fork 36 has the arm 3S extending transverselytherefrom, to the end of which is connected the link 39, the said linkbeing connected to the eccentricpin 40, carried by the gear-wheel 41.The said gear-wheel 41 is journaled in anysuitable bearings on the frame3 and is driven by means of the gear 42, fast on the drive-shaft 27. Thegear-wheels 41 and 42 are of the same size, and it will thus be seenthat for each rotation of the drive-shaft or cam-shaft 27 the gear-wheel41 will be rotated once and the table 33 will be given a completevibration-t'. e., it will move from one eXtreme position to the oppositeextreme position and back again. The vibrating mechanism for the table33 and the earns on the cam-shaft are so timed relative to each otherthat one leader-knife and the center knife are moved downwardly tocooperate with the bed-knife to cut a blank from the sheet of metal whenthe table is in one eXtreme position, and the other leader-knife and thecenter knife are operated to cut the next succeeding blank when thetable is in the opposite eXtreme position.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the manner in which the sheet ofmetal, which is designated by 50, is cut into strips and the stripssimultaneously cut into tack-blanks will be made more clear. Assumingthat the table is in one extreme position-for instance, that illustratedin Fig. 3-the cams 25 and 26 are then operatin g to depress the centerknife 11 and the leader-knife 12, with the result that a tack-blank ofthe shape illustrated at 51 in Fig. 11 will be severed from the sheet ofmetal. The leader knife 12 is further depressed to carry the blank 51into position to be operated by the heading mechanism, as will bepresently described, and the table 33 is meanwhile swung into theopposite position from that illustrated in Fig. 3, carrying the sheet ofmetal 50, supported thereby, to the position shown in Fig. 12. Theknife-operating cams now depress the center knife 11 and theleader-knife 13, and since the leaderknife 13 is constructed to cut themetal both on the same line as the center knife 11 and on the line 52,which is approximately parallel to the line of feed, it will be seenthat a tack-blank 53 will be cut from the sheet, with its point disposedin an opposite direction from that of the tack-blank 51. The table isthen swung back to the position shown in Fig. 3, when the knives 11 and12 cooperate to cut another blank similar to 51, and this operation isrepeated. Since, therefore, the leader-knife 13 operates to cut bothtransversely and longitudinally of the sheet, it will be seen that astrip of metal, as 54, is cut from the sheet of metal 50, the said stripbe ing simultaneously cut into oppositely-disposed tack-blanks.

Referring to Fig. 9a, the shape of the bed- 'knife will be more plainlyseen, and it will be seen that the said knife has the straighttransverse cutting edge 55,l coperating with the center knife 11 andthe-front portion ofy the leader-knife 13, and the longitudinal cuttingedge 56, coperating with the side of the leader-knife 13, whereby thesheet is cut both longitudinally and transversely. I may, if desired,provide the said bed-knife with the longitudinal cutting edge 56 tocoperatc with the leader-knife 12, although this is not necessary. 'Imay construct the bed-knife 8 of a single piece of metal having itsoperative edge shaped to form the I-shaped cutting edge, or I may makesaid bed-knife in one or more sections. In Fig. 3 the said knife isillustrated as made in three sections Sa, 8", and 8c, the section S,which may or may not be used, coperating with the leader-knife 12 andhaving the longitudinal cutting edge 56', the section 8b coperating withthe active or central knife 11 and the front of both leaderknives andhaving the straight cutting edge 55, and the section 8c coperating withthe leader-knife 13 and having the longitudinal cutting edge 56. Each ofthese sections are preferably made adjustable longitudinally byproviding them with the slots 800, through which the bolts 10 pass. Bythis means different-sized bed-knives may be used when it is desired tocut different-sized tack-blanks.

The mechanism for holding and feeding the sheet of metal to the cuttingmechanism will now be described.

The upper side of the table is provided with suitable grooves orguideways 60, in which is guided a slide G1, the said slide havingsuitable lugs fitted to the grooves or guideways 60. The upper face ofthe slide 61 is provided with a dovetailed rib 62, on which is mountedto slide transversely of the table an upper slide or holder 63, the saidholder having an arm 64 extended therefrom,to the end of which is anysuitable clamping device for holding a sheet of metal, said clampingdevice consisting conveniently of two plates 65'" and 65', between whichone corner of the sheet of metal 50 is firmly clamped, the plate 65lrbeing rigid with the arm 64: and provided with the bolts 65a, over whicha plate 65b is placed, said plates being clamped together by anysuitable nuts. The slide 61 is automatically fed forward or toward thecutting mechanism as the blanks are cut by any suitable means, as by theweight 70, carried by a cord 71, which passes over a suitable pulley 72and is attached in any usual way to the said slide. I have providedasuitable gage 500, Fig. 4, against which the front edge of the strip ofmetal being cut abuts as it is fed toward the knives, said gage holdingthe sheetin proper position to have the blanks cut therefrom. The gageis preferably supported in a suitable slot 501 in the head-block 5, andis situated immediately behind the active or central knife 11, it havingthe nose portion 502, which pro- IOO IIO

jects underneath the lower edge of the knife l1 and against which theedge of the sheet of metal abuts. The gage, it will be seen, moves upand down with the active knife, and to prevent said gage from beingdisengaged from the sheet of metal I make the nose 502 of such a lengththat even when the active knife is in its eXtreme upper position thenose of the gage will extend below the top of the bedknife. Any suitablemeans may be employed to adjust the gage fordifferent sizes of blanks,and, as shown, I support said gage on an adjusting-screw 50i, which isheld against longitudinal movement in the lower end of the head-block 5and is screw-threaded into the stem of the gage. The upper end of thegage-stem will preferably rest against a swell 50G, about which the gageis rocked by the adjusting-screw. lVhen the sheet has been advanced tothe cutting mechanism suiiiciently to cut an entire strip therefrom andto simultaneously cut said strips into tackblanks, automatic mechanismis thrown into operation to retract the said slide 61, and consequentlythe sheet 50, and when the slide and sheet are in their retractedposition the upper slide or holder 63 is automatically shifted at rightangles to the line of feed a distance sufficient to bring the sheet intoposition to have a second strip cut therefrom. The slide 6l carries atone end a downwardlyextended arm 65, through which is threaded a rod 66,slidably mounted in suitable guides upon the side of the table, the saidrod 66 having thereon the adjustable stop-collars 67. The front end ofthe rod is secured in any suitable Way to a block G8, having a stem G9,which passes through a slot 70 in the camplate 71, Fig. 24, which ismounted upon the vertical pivot or spindle 72, said pivot or spindlebeing supported in any suitable way on the frame of the machine. Aknock-off lever 74 is pivoted to any suitable Support, as to the bracketwhich supports the spindle 72, said knock-off lever having at its upperend a head 75, which engages a depression or recess in the edge of thecam-plate 71, as plainly seen in Fig. 3. The lower end of the knockoifYlever may be forked, if desired, and engages a suitable groove in asliding clutch member 76, splined to the shaft 77, the said clutchmember-cooperating with the clutch member 7S, loose on said shaft. Theshaft 77 may be driven by any suitable means, and I have illustratedsaid Vshaft as having a pulley 79 mounted on the end thereof, over whichruns a belt 80, said belt passing around a drive-pulley S1 on the shaft82, which shaft operates header mechanism,as hereinafterdescribed, andis driven by means of the gearwheel 83, which meshes with the gear 41,above referred to. Secured to the slide 61 is the belt or cord 85,passing over pulley 86 on the end of the table and secured at its end tothe clutch member '78. The front stopcollar 67 will be so adjusted uponthe rod 66 that the arm 65 will contact therewith just when the sheet ofmetal has been fed forward sufficiently so that a strip has just beencutV therefrom, and any further movement toward the cutting mechanism ofthe slide 61, caused by the weight 70, will cause the arm 65 to engagethe stop-collar 67 and move the rod 6G toward the, cutting mechanism andthrough the block 68 turn the cam-plate 71 in the dig rection of thearrow, Fig. 3, thereby throwing the head of the knock-O lever` out ofthe notch in the edge of the plate and moving the clutch member 76 intoengagement with the clutch member 78. The rotation of the shaft 77 isthereby imparted to the clutch member 78, and the cord is then woundupon the drum portion, thus retracting the slide 61.

Pivoted to the rear end of the slide 61 is a lever 90, carrying at itsend a friction clamp device 91, which normally binds upon the top of theholder 63 and by its weight or a suitable spring mechanism locks thesaid holder to the slide 6l. The clamp device 91 has the stem 92extending rearwardly therefrom, and the table has at its rear end thecam 93 so positioned as to be engaged by the stem 92 when the slidereaches its retracted position, the said cam 93 operating to raise theclamp device 91 and allow the holder or upper slide 63 to be movedtransversely of the line of feed by means of the weight 100, the saidweight being suspended from a cord 10l,which passes over a suitablepulley 102 through an eye on the arm 103, secured to the end of theslide 6l, and is attached to the holder 63, as at 104. The holder 63 islimited in its transverse movement by the edge of the sheet of metalwhich is being eut striking a suitable stop or guide device 106,fastened in any suitable way to the bed of the machine, the said guidebeing so positioned that the sheet will be stopped in the correctposition to be presented to the knives to have another strip cuttherefrom. Preferably the upper face of the slide 63 where it is engagedby the clamping device 91 will be slightly roughened, as shown in Fig.3, so that the said clamp device will more firmly grip the upper slideor holder 63 to lock it in its proper position. It will be understood,of course, that as soon as the forward movement of the slide 6l beginsthe stem of the clamp device will drop off from the-cam ist.'

Ioo V 93 to allow the said clamp device to lock the 'Y holder 63 to theslide 6l.

Combined with the cutting mechanism which has been above described is aheading mechanism, which is adapted to receive tackblanks from thecutting mechanism and form the heads thereon to make the complete tack.The form of heading mechanism illustrated herein comprises a suitabledie, including fixed and movable die members adapted to receive thetack-blanks between the same, and reciprocating headers operating toswage heads on said blanks while they are gripped between the diemembers. Means are also employed in connection with the cuttingmechanism whereby the cutting mechanisme..

is made to feed or deliver the severed blanks directly to the diemembers.

Referring to Fig. 4, the fixed die member is designated by 7, this beingsecured to the bed 9 of the machine by the bolts 10, as hereinbeforedescribed. The movable die inember is designated by 107, the same beingsupported upon and secured in any suitable Way to a slide 108, guided insuitable ways in the bed of the machine and operated in one direction bythe double cam 109, mounted upon the shaft 82, hereinbefore referred to,and in the other direction by a spring 301. The active faces of the diesare provided with the grooves or scores 110, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) inwhich the tack-blank is received, as hereinafter described, the saidscores or grooves 110 operating to give the proper shape to the stem orshank of the blank. The headers which swage the heads upon thetack-blanks while they are gripped between the die members aredesignated by 112 and 113, respectively, they being mounted toreciprocate transversely of the bed and in suitable ways and being movedin a direction toward the die members by wedges 114, which engage theends thereof and play against suitable backings or flanges 115, madeintegral with the bed 9 of the machine, the said wedges being held inplace by the cap-plates 116, as seen in Fig. 5. One of the wedges isconnected by means of a link 117 to a crank-pin 118 on the gear-wheel83, while the other wedge is connected bya similar link 117 to acrank-pin 119 upon the belt-pulley 81, before referred to, and thecrank-pins 118 and 119 are oppositely disposed, as will be seen fromFig. 3, so lthat while one wedge is moved to the left to cause thecorresponding header to swage a head upon the tack the opposite wedge iswithdrawn. Suitable springs 120, connected to the headers and to theplates 116, respectively, serve to retract the headers when the wedgesare withdrawn. The gear-wheel 83 is of the same size as the gearwheels41 and 42, so that the shaft 82 rotates synchronously with thedrive-shaft 27, and the movable die therefore moves synchronously withthe active knife. The object in having the two oppositely-disposedheaders alternately operating is because the character of the cuttingmechanism is such that oppositely-disposed-tack-blanks are cut from thesheet of metal, and as the said blanks are received by the dies thesuccessive blanks are arranged with their heads in opposite directions.

Coperating with each leader-knife is what I have termed a follower, thesame comprising a rocking member 121, which receives the yieldingbearer-pin 122, the said pin being received in a recess in the rockingmember 121 and heilig supported upon a suitable spring 123. To limit themovement of A follower composed of the rocking member 121 and thebearer-pin 122 is normally disposed directly beneath each leader knife,and as either leader-knife and the center knife is depressed by the cammechanism to cut a blank from the sheet of met-al the blank when severedis carried by the leader-knife down into engagement with the upper endof the bearer-pin 122, the saidbearer-pin and the leader-knife operatingto clamp the head ofthe tack-blank therebetween. The cams 26 foroperating the leader-knife are so designed and shaped that after theyhave depressed the leader-knife sufficiently to cut the blank from thesheet of metal they continue the downward movement of said leader-knife,the continued downward movement of said knife operating t0 force thebearer-pin into the rocking member 91 againstthe action of the spring123,the tackblank, it being remembered, being clamped between thebearer-pin and the leader-knife. W'hen the tack-blank is carried downinline with the score 110 in the two die members, the cam 109 operatesto move the movable die member toward the fixed die member and grip thetack-blank between the two die members. At this point the cam 2G, whichhas depressed the leader-knife, allows the same to rise under the actionof the spring 30, and the wedge 114 operates to force the header 112toward the die member to swage the head on the tack blank. Before theheader is brought into operative position the follower is rocked on itssupport 130 in order to re move the bearer-pin 122 out of the way of theactive face of the header, such rocking Inovement of the follower beingaccomplished in some suitable way, as by a suitable cam 131, mounted onthe shaft 82. In this embodiment of my invention the cam is shown as agrooved cam and the rocking member 121 is show-n as having connectedthereto a suitable link 132, fromv the end of which extends a projectionwhich is engaged by the camgroove 133 in the cam 131. It will beunderstood, of course, that there is one follower cooperating with eachleader-knife, and the cam-groove 133 in the cam-disks 131 is soconstructed that each follower will be rocked slightly just before thecorresponding header comes into position to swage the head upon thetackblank, the rocking of the follower of course not occurring untilafter the tack-blank has been gripped between the two die members. Theextent of rocking movement of the follower need not be suthcient so thatthe end of the bearer -pin 122 becomes disengaged from the end of thecooperating leader-knife,

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and therefore as the leader-knife rises under y the action of the spring30 the bearer-pin follows the saine upwardly until the stop-pin 124engages the end of the groove 125, although in the embodiment ofmyinvention I have shown the rocking member as having a rocking movementsufficient so that the end of the bearer-pin passes off from the end ofcorresponding leader-knife. When this oecurs, (see Fig. 18,) the spring123 lifts the bearer-pin to its normal or elevated position,

' and as the leader-knife is raised the rocking Vzo member is broughtinto lthe vertical position, with the bearer-pin again directly underthe leader-knife by the cam 131. I would here remark that the movabledie member 107 is in practice approximately the widthA of the activeknife, so that after either leader-knife has descended, carrying downthe tack-blank and the bearer-pin of the corresponding follower,and themovable die member moves up to grip the tack-blank, said die memberpasses just inside the leader-knife. As the follower is rocked to removethe bearer-pin from the path of the header said bearer-pin moves alongthe side of the movable die member, as shown in Fig. 1S. v

Referring to Figs. 13 to 20, inclusive, the various steps of cutting thetack-blanks and forming the heads upon the same will be traced out. InFig. 13 the header 112 is withdrawn and the leader-knife 12 and thecenter knife 11 are in their eXtreme upper position and have juststarted downwardly, as indicated by the arrows, the leader-knife 13being in its lowest position. As the knives 12 and 11 descend atack-blank is cut from the sheet of metal, as hereinbefore described,the head of the tack-blank being underneath the leader-knife 12, as willbe evident from an inspection of Fig. 11. Figs. 14 and 18 illustrate theposition of the parts just as the cutting action begins, and Fig. 15illustrates the position of the knives after the blank has been fullysevered from the sheet and the active or center knife 11 is just aboutto move upward -again for another stroke, while the leader-knife 12continues its downward movement and clamps the tack-blank between thesame and the pin 122 of the follower. The arrows in Fig. 15 show thedirection of the knives and headers at this point. Disregarding for themoment the movement of the leader-knife 13 and the header 113, it willbe understood from the above description that the leaderknife 12continues its downward movement, holding the tack-blank between the sameand the bearer-pin 122 and forcing the said bearer-pin against thespring 123 nntil the tack-blank is brought into alinement with thescores 110 in the die members, Figs. 16 and 20. At this point themovable die member is operated by means of its cam to clamp and grip'thetack-blank between the same and the fixed die member, and the header 112is forced toward the die members by its Wedge'114 to swage the head uponthe tack. Just previous to the swaging action the cam 133 operates toretract or vibrate the follower to move the end of the bearer-pin 122out of the way of the header 112, above described, the said bearer-pinpassing out from underneath the head of the tack and being forced by thespring up against the edge of the lower end of the leader-knife 12. Thisposition of the parts is illustrated in Figs. 1G and 18, and

as the leader-knife 12 -begins to ascend the cams 26 and 25 aredepressing the active knife 11 and the other leader-knife 13 to cut fromthe sheet of metal a tack-blank corresponding to that illustrated at 53in Fig. 12, the head of the tack-blank being directly under the'leader-knife 12 and disposed in an opposite direction from the head ofthe previous tack. The cam 26, operating the leader-knife 13, isconstructed precisely like the cam for operating the leader-knife 12,and consef quently after the knives 11 and 13 have been operated inunison to cut a blank from the sheet of metal the cam 26 for the knife13 operates to continue the downward movement of said knife, and theVsaid knife cooperating with its follower operates to bring the severedtack-blank into position to be gripped between the die members, and asthis takes place the header 113 is operated by its wedge to form a headon said tack, the follower coperating with the leader-knife 13 beingmoved out of the way of the header 113 bythe camgroove above described..It will also be seen that the leader-knives operate alternately andthat the center or active knife operates in unison with eachleader-knife and also that the movable die member operates synchro-Vnously with the active knife. Furthermore, the header'112 operatessynchronously with the leader-knife 12, While the oppositely-disposedheader 113 operates synchronously with the other leader-knife 13. Bythus using two leader-knives, each operating alternately but in unisonwith the active knife, and in usingtwo headers I am enabled tomaterially increase the output of the machine without increasing thespeed of the heading mechanism,

for each header operates to head only every other tack, and consequentlythe movement thereof may be comparatively slow relative to the movementof the active knife.

I have also employed in connection with the mechanism herein described aclearer operating to positively force the finished tacks from betweenthe die members when they are separated. One suitable form of clearer isillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and it comprises a hooked rod 140, pivotedat its lower end to a lever 141, which lever in turn is suitably pivotedto the bed of the machine and has connected to its other end a rod 142,passing up through the bed of the machine and in position to be operatedupon by a cam 143, mounted on the shaft 27. The active faces of the diemembers 7 and 107 are provided with a central groove or notch 145, inwhich the upper bent end of the clearer 140 normally plays. The cleareris yieldingly connected to the movable die member 107 by any suit-V ablemeans, such as a spring 150, and I will preferably provide the movabledie member with a suitable guide-arm 303, againstwhich the clearer isheld by the spring 156. The

cam 143 is so constructed as to depress the rod 142 and raise theclearer 141 while the movable die member 107 is in its retracted IOO VVi position, the spring 150 serving to hold the clearer in the recess1-15 of the said movable die member. After the tack-blank has beenbrought into position to be gripped by the die member the said diemember` is moved forward byits operating-cam,as above described, and thehooked nose of the clearer is brought over the tack-blank, this beingthe position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 7. W'hen the head has beenformed upon the tack, the cam 14:3 has been so turned that the end ofthe rod 142 passes off from the rise thereon and a suitable spring, as155, operates to raise the rod 142 and quickly depress the clearer 140to thus force the tack from between the die members,the tack fallingintoa suitable chute (not shown) and gravitating to any suitable receptacle.As the movable die member is retracted the cam 143 operates to raise theclearer, as above described, into position to operate on the next tack.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised a machinefor cutting strips from a sheet of metal and for simultaneously cuttingsaid strips into oppositelydisposed tack-blanks, and such cuttingmechanism is combined with heading mechanism comprising die membersadapted to receive the successive oppositely-disposed blanks andoppositely-disposed header mechanism operating to form heads on theblanks While they are gripped by the die members. Believing that I amthe first to devise a machine for thus cutting a sheet of metal intostrips and simultaneously cutting the same into tackblanks, I desire toclaim the same broadly, and I consider as coming Within my invention anystructure which accomplishes this result.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the details of my invention Without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, which is expressed in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters,

Patent, is-

1. In a machine for making tacks, cutting mechanism, means to feed asheet of metal to said cutting mechanism, said mechanism operating tomake a series of cuts parallel to the line of feed, whereby a singlestrip is cut from said sheet and to simultaneously make cuts transverseto the line of feed, whereby said strip is cut transversely intotack-blanks, and means, rendered operative after each strip has been cutinto tack-blanks, to automatically shift the sheet into position to haveanother strip cut therefrom.

2. In a machine for making tacks, aplurality of knives, means to advancea sheet of metal toward said knives, said knives operating to cut asingle strip from said sheet parallel to the line of feed and tosimultaneously cut said strip transversely into tackblanks, and means,rendered operative after one strip has been cut, to automaticallyWithdraw said sheet from the knives and move the same parallel to theknives and into p0- si tion to have another strip cut therefrom.

3. In a tack-making machine, a table having means to support a sheet ofmetal, and a plurality of cooperating knives adapted to cut tack-blanksfrom said sheet, said knives cutting the sheet longitudinally thereof tocut a single strip therefrom, and cutting each strip transversely intooppositely-disposed tack-blanks simultaneously with the cutting of thestrip from the sheet.

4t. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal, a plurality of independent knives, comprising a centerknife and leader-knives either side thereof, the center knife and oneleader-knife coopera-ting to eut a blank when the vibrating table is inone extreme position, and the center knife and the other leader-knifecoperating to cut the next blank when the table is in the other extremeposition.

5. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal, cutting mechanism, means to feed the sheet to saidcutting mechanism, comprising a movablecenter knife and independentleaderknives either side thereof, said center knife being adapted tomake a cut transversely to the line of feed of the sheet, and one ofsaid.

leaderknives being adapted to out both transversely to the line of feedand parallel thereto, whereby the sheet is cut into strips, and saidstrips are simultaneously cut into tack-blanks.

, 6. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal, cutting mechanism, means to feed the sheet toward saidcutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism comprising a movable centerknife and independent leader-knives either side thereof, said centerknife being adapted to make a cut transversely to the line of feed, andone of the leader-knives being adapted to cut both transversely andparallel to the line of feed, whereby the sheet is cut into strips, andsaid strips are simultaneously cut into tack-blanks, and means, renderedoperative after each strip has been cut into tackblanks, toautomatically shift the sheet into position to have a fresh strip cuttherefrom.

7. In a machine for making tacks, means for successively cutting singlestrips longitudinally from a sheet of metal, and means for cutting eachstrip transversely into tackblanks simultaneously 'with the operation ofcutting said strip from`the sheet, combined with means independent fromthe cutting means for automatically forming heads upon the cut blanks.

8. In a machine for making tacks, coperating knives, means to advance asheet of metal toward said knives, said knives being adapted to out asingle strip from said sheet parallel to the line of feed, and tosimultaneously cut said strip transversely into tackblanks, means forforming heads upon the cut blanks, and means, rendered operative IOOafter each strip has been cut into blanks, to automatically shift thesheet relative to the knives, and into position to have another stripcut therefrom.

9. In a machine for making tacks, a plurality of knives, means toadvance a sheet of metal toward said knives, said knives operating tocut a single strip from said sheet parallel to the line of feed, and tosimultaneously cut said strip transversely into tack-blanks, means forautomatically forming heads upon the cut blanks, and means, renderedoperative after one strip has been cut, to automatically withdraw saidsheet from the knives and move the same parallel to the knives, and intoposition to have another strip cut therefrom.

10. In a tack-makingmaehine, a Vibrating table, having means to supporta sheet of metal, cutt-ing mechanism, including a central knife andindependent leader-knives either side thereof, means to operate saidcentral knife alternately in unison with each leader-knife, and means tofeed the sheet of metal toward said knives, the center knife and oneleader-knife operating to cut a blank from the sheet when the table isin one extreme position, and the center knife and the other leader-knifeoperating to cut the next succeeding blank from the sheet when the tableis in the other extreme position,whereby the succeeding blanks are cutwith their points extending in opposite directions, combined withheading mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from the cuttingmechanism and form heads thereon.

ll. In a tackmaking machine, cutting mechanism, a vibrating table,having means to support a sheet of metal, means to feed the sheet towardthe cutting mechanism, means to vibrate said table synchronously withthe operation of the cutting mechanism, whereby tack-blanks are cnt withthe points of succeeding blanks extending in opposite directions, a dieto receive the tack-blanks from the cutting mechanism, and means to formheads upon the blanks while they are in the die.

l2. In a tackmaking machine, cutting mechanism to cut tack-blanks from asheet of metal, a vibrating table to support said sheet, means tovibrate said table synchronously with the operation of the cuttingmechanism, means to feed said sheet to the cutting mechanism, wherebytack-blanks are cut with the head end of succeeding blanks extending inopposite directions, a die to receive the tacks from the cuttingmechanism, the blanks being received by the die with the headsalternately in opposite directions, and alternately-operating headers toform heads on the tacks while they are held in the die.

13. In a tack making machine, cutting mechanism, a vibrating table,having means to support a sheet of metal, means to feed the sheet towardthe cutting mechanism, means to vibrate said table synchronously withthe operation of the cutting mechanism, whereby tack-blanks are cut withthe points'of succeeding blanks extending in opposite directions, a dieto receive the tack-blanks from the cutting mechanism, means to formheads Y each leader-knife and its coperating follower operating to`carry the blank therebetween into position to be gripped between thedie members while the other leader-knife and the central knife'arecutting a blank from the sheet, and means to form heads on the blankswhile they are gripped between the die mem- Y bers.

l5. In a tack making machine, cutting mechanism, comprising a fixedbed-knife, a central movable knife, and movable leaderknives either sidethereof, means to operate the central knife alternately in unisonwiththe leader-knives to cut tack-blanks from a sheet of metal, ayielding follower in line with each leader-knife, each follower adaptedto receive and hold the blanks between the same and the cooperatingleader-knife, a fixed and Y movable die member below the bed-knife,

each leaderknife and its cooperating follower operating to carry theblank therebetween into position to be gripped between the die memberswhile the otherleader-knife and the central knife are cutting a blankfrom the sheet, and oppositely-'disposed headers operating alternatelyto form heads on the successive blanks.

16. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, having means to supporta sheet of metal, cutting mechanism, comprisinga cen-V tral knife andleader-knives either side thereof, means to operate said central knifealternately in unision with the leaderknives, means to vibrate the tablesynchronously with the operation of the central knife, wherebyalternately-disposed tack-blanks are cut from the sheet, a die toreceive the blanks from the cutting mechanism, and means for formingheads on the said blanks while they are held in the die.

17. In atack-making machine, a vibrating table, having means to supporta sheet of metal, cutting mechanism, comprisinga central knife andleader-knives either side thereof, means to operate said central knifealternately in unison with the leader knives, means to vibrate the tablesynchronously with the operation of the central knife, whereby Ioo 1ro Y,Y

alternately-disposed tack-blanks are cut from the sheet, a die toreceive the blanks from the cutting mechanism, and alternately-operatingheaders to form heads on the tack-blanks while they are held in the die.

18. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, having means to supporta sheet of metal, cutting mechanism comprising a bedknife, a centralmovable knife, and independently-movable leader-knives either side ofthe central knife, means to operate said. central knife alternately inunison with the leader-knives, means to vibrate the table synchronouslywith the operation of the central knife, whereby alternately-disposedtackblanks are cut from the sheet, a die to receive the blanks from thecutting mechanism, said die comprising a fixed die member and a movabledie member operating syn- 'chronously with the central knife, andoppositely-disposed headers to form heads on the tack-blanks while theyare held between the die members.

19. In a tack-making machine, a Vibrating table having means to supporta sheet of metal, cutting mechanism,comprising a fixed bed-knife, acentral movable knife, and in- 'dependentlymovable leader-knives eitheri side of the central knife, a yielding follower y in line with eachleader-knife, knife-operati ing mechanism constructed to move thecentral knifein unison with each leader-knife alternately to cutoppositely-disposed tackblanks from the sheet, and to give eachleaderknife, after the blank is cut, a further movement, whereby thesevered blank is held between said knife and its coperatingyielding'follower, and carried into position to be lgripped in a die,the said die, and means for forming heads on the tack-blanks while theyIare gripped therein.

20. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table having means to supporta sheet of` metal, cutting mechanism, comprisingafixed bed-knife, acentral movable knife, and independently movable leader-knives eitherside of the central knife, a yielding follower in line with eachleader-knife, knife-operating mechanism constructed to move the centralknife in unison with each leader-knife alternately to cutoppositely-disposed tackblanks from the sheet, and to give eachleaderknife, after the blank 'is out, a further movenient, whereby thesevered blank is held beanism comprising amovable center knife andindependent leader-knives either side thereof, said center knife beingadapted to make a cut transversely to the line of feed, and one of saidleader-knives being adapted to cut both transversely and parallel to theline of feed, whereby the sheet is cut into strips, and said strips aresimultaneously cut into tack-blanks, combined with a die to receivetacks from the cutting mechanism,the blanks being received by the diewith the heads alternately in opposite directions, andalt-ernately-operating headers to form heads on the tacks while they areheld in the die.

22. In atack-making machine, coperating die members, cutting mechanismto cut strips from a sheet of metal and to simultaneously cut saidstrips into tack-blanks, and to deliverl each tack-blank to said diemembers, and

heading mechanism operating to form heads 'l neousl y cut said stripsinto tack-blanks, said.

means including Xed and movable knives, a yielding follower in line withthe movable knife, and adapted to receive and hold the tack-blanksbetween the same and the movable knife, a fixed and movable die, saidmovable knife and follower supporting the blank until it is received andclamped between the dies, and means to swage a head on the tack when theblank is gripped between the dies.

24. In atack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal, cutting mechanism, means to feed the sheet toward saidcutting mechanism, comprisinga movable center knife and independentleaderknives either side thereof, one of said leader.-A

IOI

knives being adapted to cut both transverselyto the line of feed andparallel thereto, where-,-

by the sheet is cut into strips, and said stripsA are simnltaneously'cutintoitack-blanks, a

yielding follower in line with each leaderknife and adapted to receiveand hold the tack-blanks between the same and the coperatin gleader-knife, a fixed and movable die, said leader-knife and followersupporting the blank until it is received by and clamped between the diemembers, and means to form heads on the tack-blanks when they aregripped in the die.

25. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal,. v 'i cutting mechanism, means to feed said sheet andadapted to receive and hold the tackblanks between the same and thecoperating leader-knife, a fixed and movable die, each leader-knife andits follower supporting a severed blank until it is received by andclamped between the die members, and alternately-operatin g headers toform heads on the tack-blanks when they are gripped in the die.

26. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal, cutting mechanism, means to feed said sheet toward thecutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism comprising a movable centerknife and independent leader-knives either side thereof, said centerknife being adapted to'make a cut transverse to the line of feed, andone of the leader-knives being adapted to cut'both transversely andparallel tothe line of feed, whereby the sheet is cut into strips, andsaid strips are simultaneously cut into oppositely-disposed tack-blanks,combined with mean's, rendered operative after one strip has been out,to automatically withdraw said sheet from the knives and move thesameparallel to thepknives and into position tohave a second strip cuttherefrom.

27. In a tack-making machine, a vibrating table adapted to support asheet of metal, cutting mechanism, means to feed said sheet toward thecutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism comprising a lmovable centerknife and independent leader-knives either side thereof, said centerknife operating to cut the metal transverse-to the line of feed, and oneof said leader-'knives operating to cut I'he'metal both transverse andparallel to the lline of feed, whereby the sheet is cut into strips andsaid strips are simultaneously out Vinto tack-blanks, a die to receivethe tacks from the cutting mechanism, ythe blanks being received by thedie with the 'heads alternately-in opposite directions, andalternatelyoperating headers to form heads on the tacks while they are`held in the die, combined with means, rendered operative after eachstrip 'has been cut into tack-blanks, to automatical1-y shift the sheetinto position to have a fresh strip cut therefrom.

28. In a tack-making machine, cooperating die members, cuttingmechanism, means to automatically feed a sheet of metal thereto, saidcutting mechanism operating to cut a strip from a sheet of metal and tosimultaneously cut said strip into tack-blanks and to deliver eachtack-blank to said die members, heading mechanism operating to formheads on each tack-blank while it is held between the die members, andmeans, rendered operative after one strip has been cut from the sheet ofmetal, to automatically shift the sheet into position to have a freshstrip cut therefrom.

29. In a tack-making machine, means to cut strips from a sheet of metal,and to simultaneously cut said strips into tack-blanks, said. meansincluding xed and movable knives,

means to feed saidsheet of metal to said knives, a yielding follower inline with the movable knives and adapted to receive and hold thetack-blank between the same and the corresponding movable knife andfixed and movable die, each movable knife and its follower supportingthe blank between the same until it is received and clamped between thedies, means to form a head on the tack when the blank is gripped betweenthe dies, combined with means, rendered operative after one strip hasbeen out from the sheet, to automatically withdraw the sheet from theknives and move the'same parallel thereto and into position to haveanother strip cut from the sheet.

30. In a tack-making machine, a-vibrating table, adapted to support asheet of metal,

cutting mechanism, means to `feed a sheet.

toward the cutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism comprisinga movablecenter knife and independent leader-knives either side thereof, saidcenter knife operating to-cutthe sheet transversely to the line of feed,and one of the leader-knives operating to out the-sheet bothtransversely and parallel to the line of feed, whereby the sheet is cutinto strips and said strips are simultaneously cutintooppositely-disposed tack-blanks, a yielding follower in line with eachleaderknife and adapt- Y ed to receive and hold the tack-blanks betweenthe same and Athe cooperating leaderknife, a fixed and movableldie,-eachleaderknife and its follower supporting a severed blank between the sameuntil it is'recei'ved and clamped between the die members,means to formheads on the tack-blanks when they are gripped in the die,combined-with'me'ans, rendered operative after one strip has Vbeen cut,to automatically withdraw said sheetfrom the knives and move the samevparallel thereto and into position to have a fresh stripV cut from thesheet.

3l. In a tack-making machine, Acutting mechanism, ahorizontally-arranged table,

meansthereon to hold a sheet of metal, saidV means comprising twosuperimposed slides,`

means to secure said sheet Vof metal to the upper slide, means toautomatically move the IOO IIO

lower slide toward and from the cutting mech- Y anism, and means toautomatically'move the upper slide transversely to the line of movementof the lower slide when said lower slide is in its retracted position,whereby thesheet is moved transversely to the line of feed.

32. In a tackmaking machine, cutting mechanism, a table, means thereonto hold a sheet of metal, said means comprising two superimposed slides,one of said slides movable at right angles to the cutting mechanism, andthe other slide movable parallel thereto,

means to attach -a sheet of metal to the last- Y mentioned slide, meansto normally lock-said slides together, means to automatically move saidslides toward and from thecutting mechanism, and automatic mechanism torelease the transversely-moving slide when the said slides are in theirretracted position and to move the same parallel to the cuttingmechanism, whereby the sheet is brought into position to have a freshstrip cut therefrom.

33. In a tack-making machine, a cutting mechanism, a vibrating table,having means thereon to support a sheet of metal, means to automaticallyfeed said sheet of metal toward said cutting mechanism, said cuttingmechanism including a movable center knife and independent leader-kniveseither side thereof, said center knife operating to cut the sheet on aline transverse to the line of feed, and one of said leader-knivesoperating to cut the sheet on lines both transverse and parallel to theline of feed, whereby strips are cut from the sheet, and at the sametime said strips are cut into oppositely-disposed tackblanks, means toretract said sheet after a strip has been cut therefrom, and means toautomatically move the same transversely to the line of feed when in itsretracted position to bring the sheet into position to have a freshstrip cut therefrom.

34. In a tack making machine, cutting mechanism, a vibrating table, aslide thereon movable toward and from the cutting mechanism, a holdercarried by the slide, and having means to grip a sheet of metal, meansto normally lock said holder to the slide, means to automatically feedthe slide toward the cutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism includingamovable center knife and indepen dent leader-knives either sidethereof,said center knife operating to cut the sheet on a linetransverse to the line of feed, and one of the leader-knives operatingto cut the sheet on lines both transverse and parallel to the line offeed, whereby strips are cut from the sheet and at the same time saidstrips are cut into oppositely-disposed tack-blanks, means toautomatically retract said slide after a strip has been cut therefrom,means to automatically release the locking means and move said holder onthe slide transverse to the line 0f feed of the sheet when the sheet isin its retracted position, whereby the said sheet is brought intoposition to have another strip cut therefrom.

35. In a tack-making machine, a frame, a reciprocating head-blockmounted thereon, a central knife carried by said head-block, two

independent slides also carried by said headblock and either side of thecenter knife, a leader-knife adj ustably secured to each slidecam,mechanism for depressing the leaderknives alternately and the centerknife with each leader-knife, combined with a vibrating table, havingmeans to support a sheet of metal, and means to feed said sheet towardthe knives,whereby oppositely-disposed tackblanks are cut from thesheet.

36. In a tack-making machine, a reciprocating head-block, a centralknife carried thereby, two independent slides mounted on said head-blockat either side of the central knife, a leader knife adjustably carriedby each slide, cam mechanism for depressing the leader-knivesalternately and the center knife with each leader-knife, one of saidleaderknives operating to cut the sheet both transversely andlongitudinally, combined with a vibrating table, having means to supporta sheet of metal, and means to feed said sheet toward the knives,whereby said sheet is cut into strips, and the strips are simultaneouslycut into oppositely-disposed tack-blanks.

37. In a tack-making machine,a reciprocating head-block, a central knifecarried thereby, two independent slides mounted on said head-block ateither side of the central knife, a leader-knife adjustably carried byeach slide, cam mechanism for depressing the leader-knives alternatelyand the center knife with each leader-knife, one of said leaderknivesoperating to out the sheet both transversely and longitudinally,combined with a vibrating table, having means to support a sheet ofmetal, and means to feed said sheet toward the knives, means toautomatically retract the sheet from the knives after each strip hasbeen cut therefrom, and means to automatically shift the sheettransversely to the line of feed when in its retracted position to bringsaid sheet into position to have another strp cut therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES N. GIFFORD.

Witnesses:

JOB C. TRIPP, JOSEPH B. PECK.

